Tame pandemic panic with common sense

Flu worries got you in a flap? Months of media attention has set our panic buttons on alert. Time to conquer your H1N1 fears and take action. Start by focusing on ways to support your immune system and avoid getting sick in the first place.

Soap and sanitizer

This dynamic duo is your first line of defense against the flu. Consider them a team and know which to play when.

Washing with soap and water wins – hands down – but only if performed correctly. A thorough job takes at least 20 seconds (try singing happy birthday twice) needs soap and hot water and scrubs all crevices of your hands. Bacteria can reproduce every twenty minutes, so do a good job or the flu-bug may be back to bite!

For portable, life-on-the-go flexibility, hand sanitizer backs you up when you can’t reach a sink. Make this a staple in your purse or back pocket. But beware of relying on it too much. While sanitizer kills most germs, the actual dirt remains and overuse can dry out your skin.

Divide and conquer.

Simply put, the flu is spread through contact. Minimizing contact reduces the spread of germs. When you’re out and about during this flu season, avoid hand shaking, cheek kissing and personal contact. If you are sick – stay home.

In the US half of all employees report regularly coming to work while sick. Feeling torn between that pile in your inbox and a day with your blankie and pillow? Remind yourself (and your boss if you need to) that you’ll recuperate faster at home. In the long run everyone’s productivity will be higher than if you struggle at your desk for days, prolonging your illness and infecting your co-workers.

The general rule: stay home until you’ve been without fever for 24 hours to help prevent spreading the flu.

Protect your shut-eye:

The evidence is clear: lost sleep prevents the immune system from fighting infection while healthy sleep helps it beef up. Hunker down and fight off bugs.

Research shows that people who sleep less than 7 hours per night triples the risk of caching a cold when compared to people who sleep 8 or more hours. A recent German study found that sleep deprivation resulted in the reduction of viral antibodies by 50% in those sleep deprived patients compared with their well-rested counterparts.

The best way to boost your immunity to the flu is to fluff up your pillows, pull back the covers, turn off the lights and climb in. Every hour you snooze gives your body an hour to build its defenses.

Do you have a plan of attack against the flu? For extra protection check out our line of NaturaProtect products. These antimicrobial, antibacterial products can help halt the spread of contaminants in your bed.

Love to chat it up about sleep, health or environmental ingenuity? Us too!  Join in the conversation and fun of our Facebook and Twitter communities. We’d love to say good morning!